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Several Kenyan universities offering Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programmes are currently operating with expired or pending licences, putting students at risk of earning degrees that may not be officially recognised.
The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has identified the University of Nairobi (UoN), Moi University, Africa Nazarene University, UMMA University, and Chuka University as institutions affected by licence lapses or delays in renewal.
CLE CEO Busalile Mwimali noted that the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Law at the Parklands Campus had its licence expire on December 10, 2025. Although the university submitted a renewal application on December 14, the process is still pending, awaiting audit and inspection by the council.
Moi University’s law teaching licence also expired on December 10, 2025, with renewal similarly dependent on inspection. Meanwhile, Chuka University has not yet submitted all the required documents for renewal, even though it initiated the process and paid fees last month.
Regarding UMMA University, CLE stated: “Institution licence expired on 24th September 2025. Renewal was applied for on 18th September 2025. Audit scheduled for 20th January 2026.”
For Africa Nazarene University, the council said: “Institution licence expired on 10th December 2025. Renewal application submitted on 17th November 2025. Review pending audit and inspection by the council.”
Under the Legal Education Act (Sections 2, 8(1)(b), 18–23, and 48), CLE is responsible for regulating, licensing, and accrediting legal education providers in Kenya. Its mandate includes enforcing quality standards, managing admission criteria, recognising foreign qualifications, and overseeing legal training institutions.
Universities operating without valid CLE licences risk having their law programmes declared unrecognised, potentially jeopardising the career prospects of students enrolled in the affected courses.
